SynthesisJournal of the International AIDS Society2017
Examining the effects of HIV self-testing compared to standard HIV testing services: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Journal of the International AIDS Society, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06270160 (Tushirikiane-4-Uthabiti), which is not on this map. Cited by 271 papers, 15 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Tushirikiane-4-Uthabiti (Supporting Each Other For Resilience)
Who cites it
271 citing papers in PubMed, 15 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 426 citations in OpenAlex.
- Social Network-Based Strategies for HIV Testing Among Women: A Systematic Review.Archives of sexual behavior · 2026Pooled it
- Missing assent: a global systematic review of ethical practices in HIV research with men who have sex with men (MSM) under 18.BMC medical ethics · 2026Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Acceptability and use of HIV self-testing among young people in sub-Saharan Africa: a mixed methods systematic review.BMC primary care · 2024Pooled it
- Effectiveness of Linkage to Care and Prevention Interventions Following HIV Self-Testing: A Global Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.AIDS and behavior · 2024Pooled it
- Counseling Supporting HIV Self-Testing and Linkage to Care Among Men Who Have Sex With Men: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.JMIR public health and surveillance · 2024Pooled it
- The Practice and Potential Role of HIV Self-testing in China: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.JMIR public health and surveillance · 2022Pooled it
- Direct Access for Patients to Diagnostic Testing and Results Using eHealth: Systematic Review on eHealth and Diagnostics.Journal of medical Internet research · 2022Pooled it
- Acceptability and uptake of HIV self-testing in emergency care settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine · 2022Pooled it
- A Systematic Review of the Social Network Strategy to Optimize HIV Testing in Key Populations to End the Epidemic in the United States.AIDS and behavior · 2021Pooled it
- A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analyses to Assess the Effectiveness of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Self-testing Distribution Strategies.Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America · 2021Pooled it
- ART initiations following community-based distribution of HIV self-tests: meta-analysis and meta-regression of STAR Initiative data.BMJ global health · 2021Pooled it
- HIV Self-Testing Uptake and Intervention Strategies Among Men in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review.Frontiers in public health · 2021Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Comparing the effects of HIV self-testing to standard HIV testing for key populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC medicine · 2020Pooled it
- Exploring the relationship between HIV Testing frequency and sexual behavior, prevention prophylaxis use among MSM in Southern China.PloS one · 2026Trial
- Participants and Recipients in Social Network Distribution of HIV Self-Testing Kits Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in China.Sexually transmitted diseases · 2025Trial
- Chatbot-Delivered Real-Time Support to Improve HIV Self-Testing Rates: A Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA network open · 2025Trial
- Acceptability and feasibility of a urine-based tenofovir adherence assay for monitoring and providing feedback on PrEP adherence in Kenya.AIDS care · 2025Trial
- Critical lessons from a pragmatic randomized trial of home-based COVID-19 testing in rural Native American and Latino communities.The Journal of rural health : official journal of the American Rural Health Association and the National Rural Health Care Association · 2024Trial
211 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
introductionHIV self-testing (HIVST) is a discreet and convenient way to reach people with HIV who do not know their status, including many who may not otherwise test. To inform World Health Organization (WHO) guidance, we assessed the effect of HIVST on uptake and frequency of testing, as well as identification of HIV-positive persons, linkage to care, social harm, and risk behaviour.
methodsWe systematically searched for studies comparing HIVST to standard HIV testing until 1 June 2016. Meta-analyses of studies reporting comparable outcomes were conducted using a random-effects model for relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals. The quality of evidence was evaluated using GRADE.
resultsAfter screening 638 citations, we identified five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing HIVST to standard HIV testing services among 4,145 total participants from four countries. All offered free oral-fluid rapid tests for HIVST and were among men. Meta-analysis of three RCTs showed HIVST doubled uptake of testing among men (RR = 2.12; 95% CI: 1.51, 2.98). Meta-analysis of two RCTs among men who have sex with men showed frequency of testing nearly doubled (Rate ratio = 1.88; 95% CI: 1.17; 3.01), resulting in two more tests in a 12-15-month period (Mean difference = 2.13; 95% CI: 1.59, 2.66). Meta-analysis of two RCTs showed HIVST also doubled the likelihood of an HIV-positive diagnosis (RR = 2.02; 95% CI: 0.37, 10.76, 5.32). Across all RCTs, there was no indication of harm attributable to HIVST and potential increases in risk-taking behaviour appeared to be minimal.
conclusionsHIVST is associated with increased uptake and frequency of testing in RCTs. Such increases, particularly among those at risk who may not otherwise test, will likely identify more HIV-positive individuals as compared to standard testing services alone. However, further research on how to support linkage to confirmatory testing, prevention, treatment and care services is needed. WHO now recommends HIVST as an additional HIV testing approach.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.